Ian McKellen On Stage – With Tolkien, Shakespeare, others and YOU

Sir Ian McKellen, star of stage and screen will play the title role in an age-blind production of Hamlet at the Theatre Royal Windsor. McKellen, who gave his last Hamlet almost 50 years ago, will be directed by Seam Matthias. Joining the multi-award winning octogenarian will be Jenny Seagrove, Ben Allen, Emmanuella Cole, Alis Wyn Davies, Oli Higginson, Nick Howard-Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Asif Khan and Missy Malek. Produced by Bill Kenwright, the production, which began rehearsals this week, will reopen the venue at a date to be announced. The production of Hamlet will be followed by Martin Sherman’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard in which Sir Ian will play the role of Firs the elderly manservant. Speaking about taking on the role, McKellen said: "I feel lucky to be working again, thanks to Bill Kenwright's inspiring optimism and Sean Mathias's invitation to re-examine Hamlet, 50 years on from my first go. So now we will meet again. Don't know when but do know where – Theatre Royal Windsor!" Sir Ian most recently performed on stage in his 2019 one-man touring show - Ian McKellen On Stage - With Tolkien, Shakespeare, others and YOU. The piece, also directed by Sean Matthias, was  a mix of acting and anecdotes from his life on the stage, and toured the UK to raise money for UK theatre's and charity.  In 2018 McKellen played the title role in King Lear at Chichester Festival Theatre, followed by 100 performances at the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End.  What many considered at that time, or if you believed the marketing - hinted would be his final stage performance.  What is clear is that you can't stop this octogenarian. Mathias said: "I have always been a fan of ensemble work so when Bill Kenwright asked me to be his artistic director at Windsor I saw a perfect opportunity to create a company and direct two of the greatest plays ever written. According to the production: "The schedule, from 29 June, will be carefully choreographed around social distancing, screening, hygiene, and PPE, with close adherence to the latest government guidelines. There will be a daily review of the protection protocol based on practical considerations learnt in the rehearsal room. If the show can't yet go on, rehearsals at least will." Kenwright said: "Sean, Ian and myself have been planning this season for some time now, and the truth is I couldn't bear to see it slip away. "So a lot of more planning, a great deal of determination (and I must admit some of the things I learned prior to the return of football) has got us to the place where all things theatrical start. Nothing is more important than this country's (and indeed the world's) health and safety, so we are not ready to announce an opening night yet - but I'm a great believer in making a start if a start is possible, and in this instance it is. I'm hopeful we will be enjoying a Windsor season in the forthcoming months." Further information and running dates to be announced.

Sir Ian McKellen has marked his 80th birthday with a special show for 80 octogenarians The one-off free performance for 80 people aged 80 and their guests at the Norwich Playhouse earlier this week was staged with the help of local newspaper group Archant, the Playhouse, Theatre Royal and Stage Two. McKellen is currently criss-crossing the UK with his one-man show which aims to raise money for local theatre's. The show - Ian McKellen On Stage - With Tolkien, Shakespeare, others and YOU is a mix of acting and anecdotes from his life on the stage. One of the 80-year-olds who went to the show, Annella Youngman, of Coltishall, Norfolk, said: "It was absolutely wonderful." Stephen Crocker, chief executive of the Theatre Royal, which helped organise the event, said: "It has been absolutely fantastic. I am fairly certain the Playhouse must be floating about four inches above the ground with the excitement." Sir Ian said: "Live theatre has always been thrilling to me, as an actor and in the audience. Growing up in Lancashire, I was grateful to those companies who toured beyond London." McKellen's celebrated career encompasses genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular television and to fantasy and science fiction films including Magneto in the X-Men films, and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. The actor turns 80 on 25 May, when he will be playing on his home turf in Lancashire. The production will also include a West End season running from 20 September 2019 until 5 January 2019 at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London. 

Multi-award winning actor Sir Ian McKellen will celebrate his 80th birthday in 2019 with an epic tour of his one-man show to raise funds for local theatres. McKellen will launch the tour at his local arts centre in London in January 2019 and will criss-cross the country going as far as Orkney in Scotland, gracing the stage of 80 theatres across the UK. The production is called Ian McKellen On Stage - With Tolkien, Shakespeare, others and YOU and will also include a West End season at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London The show will be performed at theatres big and small, including amateur groups he knew as a child, notable playhouses he has performed at over the past fifty years, as well as stages with which he has had a personal connection. The profits raised by the tour aim to benefit specific causes at each theatre. Sir Ian said “Growing up in Lancashire, I was grateful to those companies who toured beyond London and I’ve always enjoyed repaying that debt by touring up and down the country myself.” Of the show, he added, “The show starts with Gandalf and will probably end with an invitation to act with me on stage.” In a career spanning over 60 years, Ian McKellen has been the recipient of six Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for two Oscars, four BAFTA's and five Emmy Awards McKellen's celebrated career encompasses genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular television and to fantasy and science fiction films including Magneto in the X-Men films, and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. McKellen most recent stage performance was playing the title role in King Lear at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, in 2018. Tickets for Ian McKellen On Stage at the Harold Pinter Theatre are available to book here. Ian McKellen On Stage is booking from 20 September 2019 until 5 January 2019 at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London.